Flush tank



May 20, 1930. w. H. SCHULTE FLUSH TANK- Filed Feb. 24, 1928 Patented May 20, 1930 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. SCHULTE, F TRENTON, NEW JERSEY FLUSH TANK Application filed February 24, 1928. Serial No. 256,728.

This invention relates to improvements in operating mechanism for flush tanks and the like, and especially to mechanism in which the flush valve is held open by a float for slow In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, there is shown for 15 the purpose of illustration, a flush tank of the preferred form embodying all the features of the invention, and this flush tank will now be described in detail and the features forming the invention then specifically 20 pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: a Figure 1 is a vertical section through the flush tank partly broken away, showing the operating mechanism in side elevation;

ure 1 with parts broken away and Figure 3 is a detail in side elevation and enlarged.

Referring to the drawing, is a flush tank provided with a port 11, to admit the discharge connection 12 provided with a discharge valve seat 13. The weighted discharge valve 14, in the present illustration, carries the overflow pipe, 15 and these parts are guided by a guide plate 16 supported by rods 17, which pass through lugs 18 carried by the valve 14 for guiding the valve itself.

The operating handle 19 and its spindle 9 20 may be connected to the valve 14 and overflow pipe 15 in any suitable manner, but preferably an adjustable sliding connection is provided which allows wide adjustment of the connection to adapt it for tanks of various sizes and may well be of the form shown, in which the guide plate 16 is provided with lugs 21 adapted to receive the inturned ends of a bail 22 which cooperates with a collar 23 secured to the overflow pipe 15 by a screw 53 24. A sliding link 25 is secured by screw Figure 2 is a section on lines 22 of Fig- 26 to one'of the arms of the bail 22 and is connected to the operating spindle 20 by a connecting rod 27 pivotally secured to the sliding link 25 and to a cam member 28 secured on the operating spindle 20 in any suitable manner as by set screw 29. Sliding connection between the cam member andits connection to the valve is desirable because the length of the connection to be made will Vary with diflerent bowls. With the sliding connection described, quite a wide variation is permissible.

It will readily be appreciated that by turning operating handle 19in either direction the flush valve 14 will be raised from its seat through the cooperation of collar 23, bail 22, link 25, connecting rod 27 and the cam 28.

It is customary to provide a float device whichoperates to hold the valve open and secure a slow closure of same forrefill. According to the present invention, a bracket 1 carries a second cam 2 which is pivoted therein on cotter pin 3 and is held in engagement with the edge of cam 28 by. a suitable float mechanism such as float 4 connected by link 5 to an arm 6 formed integrally with cam 2. The float 4 preferably operates within a section of the main tank on a small separate float tank 7 which is provided with a small escape port 8, the size of which determines the rate of closure of the valve. The cam 2 is preferably in vertical alignment with the spindle 20 and thus the pivot of cam 28," so that there is no side strain on the float lever 0r float and the float oflers no resistance to the operating mechanism. The cam 28 is preferably provided with two recessed portions 9 on its upper side.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the tank 10 is full, the upward lift of float 4 holds the cam 2 in engagement with the edge of cam 28 until such-timeas operating handle 19 is turned to raise discharge valve 14. Upon the full opening of the valve 14, cam 28 is rotated suficiently to bring one or the other of its depressions 9 over the cam 2, which is forced therein by the rising of float 4 and the valve 14 is thereby held open. When the level of the water in the main tank 10 gets down to the top of the small tank 7, the level of the water in the small tank 7 drops more slowly than in the main tank 10, which keeps the valve 14 off of its seat 13. This allows the main tank 10 to practically empty itself, and keeps the main valve 14 off of its seat 13 long enough to seal the bowl. Theamountrof water used for sealing can be governed by the size of outlet 8 in small tank 7. The lowering of float 4 gradually withdraws cam 2 from cam ;;the tank, a spindle for the handle extending through the wall of the tank, and a camon the spindle and within the tank, means connecting'the valve andwoperating mechanism whereby operationof the handle; opens the valve, a float within the tank, and'a member cooperating, with. the edge; of said cain and operated by said float to maintainithe cam' in position corresponding to open position of the valve until the float falls to apredetermined ,level' in thetank.

2.-,In a flushing apparatus, the combinationv witha flush valve and its operating mechanism, of arotatable: cam forming a part of the operating-mechanism, a pivoted.

4 cam having a. surface for engaging the surface of the first cam, the plane of-movement' of the second: cam'bein'g transverse to the plane of rotationiof the first cam, and a float connected to the second'cam to maintain: en'- gagement between the cams and move the-second cam to hold the first cam in position corresponding to open position of the valve until the float falls to a predetermined level.

3; In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a flush valve and its operating mechanism, of a-rotatable cam forming a part of the operating mechanism, said cam having a depression on its edge, a second cam having a cam surface for engaging theedgeof thefirst cam, the plane of movement of the second cam being transverse to the plane of;

rotation of the first cam, and a float connecte ed to the second cam and adapted to-movethe second cam into the depression of the -first cam to hold the flush valve open uponmovement of the operatingmechanism.

4. An apparatus comprising a tank, a.

flushing valve therefor, a vertical overflow pipe associated with the valve, a collar on 28 so that the valve: 14 closes slowlyuntil the collar, a sliding adjustably positioned on the bail, and operating means for the link. V

5. A flushing apparatus comprisinga tank, a flushing valve for allowing discharge from the tank, an operating mechanism for the valve including a handleonlthet exterior of'the tank, a spindle for; the; handle ex tending through the wall of the tank, and a cam on the spindle and within the tank, means connectingthe val-ve and operating mechanism whereby operation of the handle opensthe valve, a pivoted cam having a surface engaging the surface ofthe first cam,

the plane of movem'ent of the second cam being transverse to the'plane 0t rotation of the first cam, and. afloat connected to; the second cam to maintain engagement. between the cams and move tliesecond cam to hold; the

first cam in position corresponding to :open, position of the valve until the: float falls to a predetermined level.

6. A flushing apparatus comprising; a"

tank, aflushing valve for: allowing discharge from the tank, an operating mechanism'vfor the valve including a handle-onithe: exterior;

of the tank, a spindle for the handle extend ing through the side of the tank, and acam on the spindle and within the-tank, aconnection between the valve and operating, mechanism whereby operation of. the handle opens the valve, a float within the tank, a. member'- cooperating with the-edgeof said cam. and operated by sa-idfloat to maintain theha-ndlein its open position until the float falls-tea predetermined level in the -tan-k,-, and aseparate float tank for. said; float having: 83138- stricted escape opening near its bottom; for; limiting the flow from the float-tankandretarding falling of; the float as the liquid drains through the-valve;

In testimony whereof, I have hereuntorset 

